Do you have a child that wakes up to start their day earlier than you would like? Or even a child that gets up multiple times throughout the night and comes into your room? If so, an Okay to Wake Clock for Toddlers is a great tool to use to help alleviate these issues. Kids do very well with boundaries, especially ones that appeal to their senses. To physically be able to see that they’re allowed to get out of bed can help create consistency in their schedule.
How Do You Use an Okay to Wake Clock?
I personally have a Hatch sound machine, which can also be used as a night light and an okay to wake clock. You can set the light to come on at the time that they normally wake up for the day (or your desired wake-time for them).
No matter how old your child is, when you start using the clock, explain to them what it means and how it works. For instance, “if you wake up and the blue light isn’t on, that means it is still night-time and you need to stay in your bed and try to go back to sleep”. And “if the blue light is on when you wake up, that means you can come out of your room and start your day”. You can make it fun for them and let them pick which color comes on to symbolize morning time. Don’t forget to praise them when they do well with the rules. That will get them excited to continue to stay in bed when the light isn’t on.
Another tip for the light – I don’t make mine too bright so that if they are sleeping in one morning, it doesn’t wake them up.
When Can You Start Using an Okay to Wake Clock for Toddlers?
After they turn 2 years old is a good time to start. At this age, they may still be a little young to completely understand, but if you keep at it, they will learn to trust it’s consistency and meaning. You can continue to explain it to them at bedtime, and/or every morning, until they really have the hang of it. And if you don’t start until age 4, that is still okay! It is not too late, I promise.
It is not uncommon for children to try and bend the rules. Try to stand firm with when they are allowed to get out of bed. For instance, my kids are 6 years old and will randomly say “Can I get out of bed??” before the blue light is on. Usually I’ll ask “Is the Blue light on?” knowing that it isn’t and then they don’t say another word, because they know the rules, too! They have had this light for many years, but I know that they randomly ask to come out early because sometime when dad wakes up early, and hears them wake up early, talking in bed, he let’s them come out early. Remember that if you give kids an inch, a lot of times they’ll try to take a mile. It is okay to be lenient sometimes, but just remember to get back on track when needed so you don’t lose all the great habits you have created.
If you have a child that wakes multiple times a night, the okay to wake clock may not be your answer to everything. They could need some schedule adjustments or even a little sleep training. Feel free to fill out a Client Intake Form if you think that you might need more help with getting them to sleep better throughout the night. You can even book a phone call if you think you just need some more tips and tricks to creating sleep rules.
